Policy Scotland’s researchers are involved in providing evidence to the UK and the Scottish parliaments on the impact of COVID on the economy and welfare.

Scotish Parliament Economy, Energy and Fair Work Committee

Dr David Waite gave evidence to the Economy, Energy and Fair Work Committee of the Scottish Parliament on November 24, to assist with its work on the impacts of COVID-19 on urban economies in Scotland.

Dr Waite spoke of the challenging contexts emerging with respect to the labour market and firm survival, and how urban areas across Scotland may experience these dynamics in varied ways (and to varying degrees).

Providing evidence alongside representatives from ScotlandIS and Fife Council, the discussion covered areas from local decision-making autonomies to the future of city centres.

House of Commons Scottish Affairs Committee

Dr Sarah Weakley, Policy Scotland Research and Impact Officer, was selected, with Dr Hayley Bennett (University of Edinburgh), to serve as Specialist Advisors to the House of Commons Scottish Affairs Committee inquiry into welfare policy in Scotland.

The inquiry will examine the effect of welfare policies on the lives of claimants and poverty and inequality levels more broadly in Scotland. The inquiry aims to assess the effectiveness of Universal Credit Scottish Choices; explore the consequences of Universal Credit policies specific to Scotland; understand how effective cooperation has been between the UK and Scottish Governments on the devolution of new welfare powers to Scotland and evaluate the likely long-term impacts of coronavirus on the devolution of welfare.

As a Specialist Advisor, Dr Weakley will work with the Committee Secretariat to analyse the issues raised in the inquiry on welfare in Scotland, advise Committee members and the Secretariat on sources of information and evidence, and comment on written materials and briefings for the inquiry.

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